*blank stare*
Okay, so I should probably give this to Dentelle_Noir to look at first, but I'm so sick of staring at it you don't even understand. It's been sitting on my computer, done, for nearly a week and I've been going, "Duuuuh. . . Now what?"
Not to say I haven't written more, but even so, I'm still tired of staring at chapter five of Flight of the Bumblebee. So I'll let you read it so it stops staring at me. And once I have it on here I can stop thinking about it and keep working on chapter six. So I formally apologize for not giving this to Dentelle_Noir to look at before I put it on here, but I'm so sick of staring at it I can't stand it anymore. I will thank her for helping me with chapter six, though. So far so good. Then again, I haven't added to it since you and I talked.
And I still can't answer your question. But I promise I am thinking about it. Writing it through helps, so I'll just keep plucking away at it. I have a feeling it will be easier to answer after I see the way Harry acts with everyone else. For now, however, I'm going to shut up and finishing posting.
Title: Flight of the Bumblebee Part Five
Rating: T/PG-13 I'm old and set in my ways. I'm used to the PG-13.
Fandom: Harry Potter Gundam Wing cross
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. Would be nice, though.
Warnings: Will contain Shounen Ai, (1x2, 3x4, 5x6). We're still at the hints, though. Some of the hints are just more blatant than others.
Summary: Trowa Barton discovers that he actually has family thanks to mandatory government testing. Since Trowa isn't eighteen yet, he's the lucky sap that gets to go live with them for awhile, to the annoyance of the rest of the pilots and Preventors.
Flight of the Bumblebee
Part Five
Annoyance
Harry was asleep almost as soon as they entered the house that night, forcing Trowa to wake him long enough to take a bath. It was good Harry trusted Trowa so much, because the elder boy had to help Harry through the entirety of his bath, he was so exhausted. Trowa finally bundled him up in some of Harry's old pajamas, since he didn't want to give Vernon something to target by leaving any of Harry's new things at the house, and the change was terrible. Harry went from a normal-looking, happy child to a lost looking waif of a boy. The difference of having clothing that fit was astounding to Trowa.
Vernon pounded at the door near eleven, and Trowa ripped it open, green eyes glittering dimly in anger. "The hell do you want, Dursley?" Trowa snarled, angry because Vernon hadn't even cared that Harry was sleeping. Harry never mattered to him, and Trowa was mad that the child had earned so much of their scorn for no reason.
"Where were you today?" Vernon growled.
"Out." Trowa told him shortly, forcing his mask back into place. It wouldn't do to have his mask shattered by this pig. "Do not bother us again tonight."
Vernon purpled, but when Trowa reached behind him, as though for his gun, the man backed down, leaving the room noisily. Trowa wanted to slam the door, but closed it softly so Harry didn't wake, twisting the lock angrily. It was surprising Harry hadn't stirred the entire time, but the child had been so tired it was also understandable he'd slept through it.
His phone ringing made him jump. "Barton."
"Tro-tro!" Duo's cheerful voice was a surprise. He hadn't checked the caller ID and just assumed it was Quatre.
"Hello, Duo." It seemed Hiiro had let him off the leash for the night.
"Did shopping go good?" Duo's bouncy spirit made Trowa smile.
"Very well. I got Harry a lot of new things. He was extremely excited. Duo, he's never had toys before. His shoes were two sizes too small. His clothes were all worn out. He didn't have a winter coat. And--his family could have bought him all of that. Toys, new clothes, new shoes, a coat . . . they just didn't bother."
Duo went quiet, and Trowa knew he was simmering angrily at the admission, but Trowa had to tell him. He needed to get it off his chest. "It isn't fair," Duo said softly. "I know some children go without, but I always thought it was because their families couldn't afford better, you know? I didn't have a pair of shoes until I got to the orphanage. To hear that Harry didn't have this stuff . . . it makes me want to get revenge . . ."
"You can't kill anyone," Trowa hissed in Japanese, not wanting to risk Harry waking in time to hear that remark.
"I don't plan to," Duo waved it off, still speaking English. "I mean, maybe we can sue the pants off your Uncle or something."
"I claim absolutely no relation to that pig," Trowa scowled, switching back to English.
"In that case, you should be all for the revenge." Duo smirked. "Got any good information on Vernon Dursley for me and Hee-chan to work with?"
"I don't talk to them much. You'll probably just have to hack into the system to find it. All I know is that the man is high up in Grunnings Drills, is easily impressed with money, and annoys the hell out of me. Petunia stays at home, does nothing but watch TV, made Harry do all the housework, and annoys the hell out of me. Dudley could get away with murder here because they'd blame it on Harry, is dumb as a box of rocks, and also annoys the hell out of me."
"Is Harry the only one of them you like?" Trowa could picture the look on Duo's face, his dark brows raised, violet eyes glittering with amusement.
"The others are all pigs," Trowa muttered, almost sullenly. "Except Petunia. She's an ass."
"As in--?"
"The donkey. Ugly as a mule, only stupid."
"Mules are fairly intelligent, but so are pigs."
"I don't care to insult either. The Dursley’s look like them, but they're stupid."
"Sounds like fun. Quatre's at a meeting and he won't get back until way too late to call, so I said I'd do it. Besides, I wanted to let you know that Hiiro was hacking into their bank account and trying to decide how much we could get from them."
"No stealing."
"Spoilsport," Duo grumbled, but agreed.
"Any of you." Trowa insisted, knowing that if he didn't make Duo promise for all of them he'd just get one of the others to do it.
"Fine. But I will find a way to make them go bankrupt." Duo huffed.
"Do it legally," Trowa ordered, rubbing his temples. He knew Duo was pouting from the tone of his voice, but the other reluctantly agreed again, promising for all of the pilots.
"Hiiro wants to talk to you." Duo finally told him after they chatted for a few more minutes, then tossed the phone to his lover. And Trowa knew he'd tossed it because he could hear air rushing past. He also knew because of Hiiro.
"Don't throw the phone, Duo," The Japanese called, probably from another room, before speaking into the phone. "Barton."
"Yui." It wasn't that he and Hiiro weren't good friends, but they were in the habit of using their last names as greetings on the phone. It drove Duo and Quatre to distraction on occasion.
"Duo told me to get off my ass and start looking for ways to make the Dursley’s sorry they'd mistreated Harry."
"Sounds like all of you have taken up his cause." Trowa raised an eyebrow.
"We do not approve of their handling of him." Hiiro's voice was flat, but Trowa could still hear the disapproval in his voice. "And we will ensure they cannot do that to anyone else."
Trowa was all for revenge, but he didn't want Harry to think it was all right. Still, the Dursley’s deserved some repercussions for what they had done to the boy. "I don't want to teach Harry revenge is all right," Trowa finally admitted.
"It is not solely revenge. They deserve consequences for their actions. We just realize you do not care to have a drawn out battle in court, so suing them would be unpleasant, though we could do it. I have some ideas that I will develop before I see you again. Then we will talk it over. Grunnings is a major company, after all."
"You already hacked in? Why did Duo ask me, then?"
"He wanted to check. As I said, we have some ideas. We will present them to you upon our arrival. Quatre will not be doing it alone, so do not ask him. He will have enough to do. He is excited to see you at the end of the week. The weekend after that we will arrive. Two weeks after that, Relena, Noin and Dorothy will be visiting. Hilde and Howard will be by the next Tuesday since Howard has a run bringing him near here and two weeks after Relena leaves Cathy will be there for a week to meet her 'new cousin.' The rest of the circus will be by sometime near the end of April to prepare for their first show the first week of June in London. Quatre's land is far enough in the country the animals may be housed there for a longer period of time." Hiiro's clinical outline of the schedule made Trowa sigh, because it sounded very busy, but he knew it wouldn't be nearly as bad as it sounded.
"Anything else?"
"Wu Fei sends greetings, as does Zechs. Quatre also told me to tell you that he loves you and is sorry he could not talk to you today. Apparently Duo scared R&D more than he thought. Even the veterans were somewhat freaked out."
"You've been around Duo too long," Trowa informed him with a slight smile. He could almost see Hiiro roll his eyes.
"We will see you in just under two weeks," Hiiro informed him, then hung up. Trowa couldn't help but smile a little wider. It was just like Hiiro, not to say good-bye over the phone. Trowa tucked the phone away, still smiling. Talking to the other pilots always put him in a good mood, even if it wasn't Quatre. Trowa shook his head before changing and crawling into bed himself.
The next week was bound to be a long one.
<>*<>
"Trowa! Trowa! Trowa!" Harry's panicked screams woke Trowa the next morning. Trowa snapped awake, grabbed his gun and rolled out of bed. Harry wasn't in the room and the door was open and unlocked. Trowa shot down the stairs, nearly screaming in anger. Vernon had Harry pinned to the wall, one hand drawn back.
"You think that boy is going to take you out of here?" Vernon roared, gripping the front of Harry's shirt and shifting the child so he could slam him into the wall. "You actually think anyone wants a freak like you?"
"Tr--Trowa!" Harry was sobbing by the time Trowa reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Put my cousin down, Dursley," Trowa snarled, not yet showing his gun.
"You going to make me, boy?" Vernon laughed, turning toward Trowa and shaking Harry mockingly. "What are you going to do? No gun now, is there. And I know you can't take me without it."
Trowa glared at the man, his green eyes darkening as Harry reached for him desperately. One hand snapped out to crack into Vernon's arm, forcing him to drop Harry. Trowa swept the child into his arms, backing away. He could have taken Vernon bare handed, but Harry was his main priority. "Do not touch him again," Trowa warned, watching Vernon impassively as the man clutched his arm.
"If you did permanent damage, boy, you better believe I'll put you away!"
"If you hurt Harry in any way, shape, or form ever again, Dursley," Trowa regarded him with narrowed green eyes, though the rest of his posture didn't change, "I'll kill you."
"Is that a threat, boy?"
"I don't bother with threats anymore, Mr. Dursley." Trowa's entire demeanor seemed to shift, his appearance cool and impassive with only a shift in his eyes, his anger hidden deep in their green depths. Vernon shuddered at the coolness of his voice. If Trowa wasn't a kid, Vernon would have sworn the boy had killed someone before. As though to confirm the theory, despite his age, Trowa pulled out his gun and aimed it unflinchingly at Vernon's head. "Understand?"
Vernon gulped, scuttling backwards. "O-of course. You and the fre--boy--just stay out of my sight."
Trowa turned and went back up the stairs, carrying a still-sobbing Harry. The child was clinging to him like he was the boy's last hope, face buried in Trowa's shoulder. "Are you all right, Harry?"
"I--I just wanted a drink of wa-wa-water!" Harry wailed. "I didn't think I needed to wake you up for some water!"
"It's okay," Trowa soothed. "I'm not mad, I promise. You're old enough you should have been able to get it alone, but Vernon is very dangerous."
Harry nodded pathetically. "You're not mad?"
"No, Harry. Not at you." Actually Trowa was sad. Harry never should have been attacked. Not by Vernon, not by anyone. This was a time of peace. No one should have been attacked, especially not a child. That was the very reason Trowa and the other pilots had given up their own childhood. To ensure that other children, children like Harry, could keep theirs.
"What now?" Harry's brows furrowed and Trowa knew the child was trying not to cry.
"Some rules for the house while we're here," Trowa sighed. "I really didn't want it to come to this, but I'm afraid it has to. If you leave our room, I go with you. I don't care what its for or where your going--though if it's to the bathroom I'll wait outside."
Harry gave a small giggle, nodding. "But even to get a drink of water?"
"It's necessary right now. After we're out of here things will change. No one at our new house will attack you; it's just as long as we're around Vernon. Okay?"
Trowa could tell Harry wasn't happy, but the boy nodded all the same. He knew, as well as Trowa, that it was necessary. That didn't mean he had to like it. But Trowa also knew Harry would obey him. Harry wouldn't risk being forced to stay with the Dursley’s, and Trowa couldn't prove that he meant to keep his promise to keep Harry and be his family until they were away from Vernon. Trowa offered a small sigh. One more week. Just one. More. Week.
<>*<>
Trowa had to make some calls so Harry could transfer into a new school after they moved. They lived nearly an hour away from the Dursley’s, to Trowa's relief, but it would require Harry changing schools. Harry hadn't minded at all, cheering when Trowa made the announcement, but he would have to work with the administration at it.
"What about you, Trowa?" Harry tilted his head. "Will you change schools, too?"
"I won't be attending anymore," Trowa looked up from his work. "I cannot explain why here, but I will tell you once we move, all right?"
"But Uncle Vernon says you need good grades to get a good job," Harry looked confused. "How will you take care of us if you can't get a job?"
"I already have a job, green eyes," Trowa smiled softly. "You let me worry about that, all right? I promise you don't need to worry about us having enough money, okay?"
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart," Trowa didn't bother with the last of the verse when Harry made another face.
"So why are you doing homework?"
Trowa shrugged. "Habit, I suppose. I don't care to leave it undone. I still need to make a few calls to get you set up in your new school, but that will all have to wait until Monday."
Harry nodded again, finishing his own homework. Trowa would have normally made him finish his homework first, but they had to get their shopping done Saturday so everything would be delivered in time for them to move in. Trowa sighed again. He wasn't used to the responsibility of a child, though he knew it would be easier when they were out of the Dursley’s house.
Finally putting Harry to bed, Trowa made sure they had water in the room so Harry wouldn't have to leave for it, and tucked away his homework before going to bed himself. They were leaving this house Saturday and Trowa could hardly wait.
<>*<>
Monday dawned bright and early, at least for Trowa, by Dudley pounding on the door. Trowa had never threatened the fat bully with his gun, and didn't care to do so. Threatening children just made him a bully, even if it probably would have done Dudley some good. Glancing at the clock Trowa decided Harry had a little longer to sleep and moved to the window to stare outside. He needed to call Harry's new school today, to check and see what they needed transferred over or what tests Harry would need to take to get in. Tuesday he would have to talk to Harry's current school to get the files transferred. Everything beyond Tuesday would depend on what the school told him when he called.
"Harry," Trowa shook the child awake gently, prodding him to get dressed and digging out some bread they'd bought the night before for breakfast. Getting him ready and to school didn't take a lot of time, and Trowa was glad Harry was such a mature and responsible child.
Then Trowa had to make his way to his own school. The Gundam Pilot stared at the box, heading calmly up the stairs and into the main office. The secretary blinked at him. "Is there an issue, young man?"
"I need withdrawl forms,” Trowa told her, eyes flicking over her relaxed form. She had been filing her nails when he walked in.
"Why? Give up on school? Everyone else does," The woman snorted. "Finally turn sixteen and then they're gone."
"I have not given up on anything. I've moving an hour away. I will not remain in attendance here when I'm nearly an hour from this school." Trowa shrugged, taking the withdrawl forms.
"We need information to send your transcripts to your next school," The secretary didn't let go of the withdrawl sheet.
Trowa waited patiently, and the woman finally sighed and let go of the paper. Trowa said nothing more, just walked out of the room. There was no need for him to get his transcripts. He wasn't transferring to another school. He had other things to do.
"Leaving us already, Mr. Evans?" The quirky recent events teacher examined the form. "Where are you transferring to?"
"I will be living just east of Rochester, Kent." The man was far too nosy for Trowa's liking.
"Found some new relatives, have you boy?" The teacher sighed. "In my day, we were happy with the relatives we had."
"I'm moving to be closer to my friends and my sister."
"Oh, that's nice. I guess that's a good reason to move so quickly." The man was easily placated, but Trowa wasn't upset. The sooner the man quit speaking to him, the better. Trowa was tired of listening to the students dissect everything that had happened to him over the past two years. It wasn't their fault they were innocent civilians, but that didn't mean Trowa wanted to listen.
He put his head back down, blocking out the entire conversation. It really didn't matter if he failed the class. He was leaving.
<>*<>
Harry raced outside to meet Trowa the moment the elder boy pulled to the curb, jumping in the car. "Dudley called me a liar!" Harry cried, throwing himself at Trowa. "He said you didn't really know Mr. Winner, or Vice Minister Darlian, or Lady Une, or, or anyone! He said that I was making it all up and the teacher believed him! She made me sit in the corner for lying even through I didn't lie!" Tears rolled down the boy's face, and he clung to Trowa like a limpet.
Trowa blinked in shock, wrapping his arms around Harry in surprise. Harry had never reacted to anything like that. "I know you aren't a liar," Trowa held him tightly, trying not to gape at the over-reacting child. "It doesn't matter what they said as long as you know you're telling the truth. What is important is that you and I both know I do know all those people."
"You're sure?" Harry sniffed. "I didn't like being in the corner."
"No one does, but at least we know you aren't really a liar, and in a week it isn't going to matter."
Trowa didn't take them home, stopping at the ice-cream parlor instead. Harry was excited; this was the third time he'd had ice cream in his entire life. There was no way Trowa would begrudge that. Harry eagerly got two small scoops of different flavors, eagerly licking at it while Trowa called Harry's new school. "You think I'll be okay in a new school?" Harry looked nervous. "Do you think they'll like me?"
"I'm sure they will. It's hard not to." Trowa smiled, and then turned his attention back to the phone call.
"Dobbin point Elementary, how may I help you?" The woman on the phone sounded a great deal nicer than the secretary Trowa had just dealt with.
"My name is Trowa Barton and I need to call about transferring my younger cousin to your school. I will be his guardian come Wednesday and we're moving into the district. What sort of forms will you need for him to start classes next Tuesday?" Trowa had considered putting him in Monday, but giving Harry a little extra time to adjust would probably be wise.
"Oh, well, isn't that nice? I'm Mrs. Strauss. Let's get some things filled out now. You said you aren't currently his guardian, but you will be Wednesday?"
"The paperwork has gone through, but I won't have proof or full government recognition until Wednesday."
"As long as you have it before he starts here, that's fine. Now, we'll need his transcripts from his old school, and I need some other information that we can fill out now. What's the boy's name?"
"Harry Potter."
"Age?"
"Nine."
Harry looked up from his ice cream cone while Trowa filled in the boy's information, smiling at Trowa before attacking the ice cream again. By the time Harry finished, Trowa had as well and was calling Lady Une to get his guardianship papers faxed on Wednesday. He had been planning to get Harry all signed out of school Tuesday, but he'd have to wait for the paperwork.
Une agreed to fax it to Quatre's residence near Rochester, Kent, and Rashid would take it to Trowa. Trowa forced himself not to look annoyed. It would only make Harry think something was wrong. And, as much trouble as this was going to be, that was the last thing Trowa wanted.
<>*<>
Tuesday was just another day for Trowa and Harry. Harry was leaving almost everything behind, taking with him only the few clothes he'd kept with him from shopping. Trowa could be packed and ready to leave in less than ten minutes. He had only brought enough for those two weeks; Quatre would pack up and bring the rest of his things.
They dodged Vernon and Petunia all day, since the two were beginning to think they were doing something without letting them know--Trowa still hadn't informed them he was leaving. They would get the paperwork Saturday as he left.
Harry raced into the room Tuesday afternoon, barely missing Dudley's kick as the two raced up the stairs, Harry holding what looked like a small plant tightly. "It's mine," Harry shouted at him, hiding behind Trowa. "I planted it and took care of it and the teacher gave it to me!"
"Harry?" Trowa should have known he was always going to feel confused around the child by now, at least where things like this were concerned.
"My teacher gave me this because she knows I'm leaving," Harry explained, too soft for Dudley to hear. "And Dudley's jealous because she gave it to me. But I helped her plant it at the beginning of school and I helped her take care of it, and I made sure to feed it and talk to it and everything."
The plant was a tiny, miniature rosebush, obviously still young, but very healthy. The pot wasn't too big, but it was colorful, and Trowa could see the small, ceramic saucer that went with the planter to catch the excess water with a small note for Harry from the teacher. To Harry, with love from Mrs. Mosden. I enjoyed having you in my class this year and hope you enjoy your new home. Please take care of this for me. The lip of the pot also said the pot was for Harry from his teacher.
"But I want it!" Dudley wailed. Trowa heard Vernon stir.
"Shut up, Dudley," Trowa stepped in, gripping the back of Dudley's shirt and spinning him around. "Go pester your parents. That plant was for Harry, and he will be keeping it."
"But I want it!" Dudley shouted, stomping his feet.
Vernon appeared on the stairs. "What is going on? Can't a man watch the telly in peace?"
"Harry stole my plant!" Dudley fake-sobbed. "Make him give it back!"
"It isn't yours!" Harry shook the saucer at them. "It's mine! This says so!"
Vernon reached out to grab it, but Trowa gripped his arm, worried that Vernon would break it if he got his hands on it, just to upset Harry. "It is Harry's," Trowa informed him, eyes cold. "The pot and saucer both say so. You will not be taking it. Now get your fat lump of a son away from us."
"What, would you hurt him, too?" Vernon sneered.
"Not like you're thinking." Trowa shoved Vernon back, mindful of the stairs. "But I will spank him if I have to." The suggestion from Duo--who had received his fair share from Father Maxwell and Sister Helen--made Vernon go purple.
"I want it!" Dudley wailed again, and Vernon glanced rapidly from Trowa, who stood protectively in front of Harry and his new flower, to Dudley. Dudley's face was turning red, and the man finally tugged Dudley towards the stairs.
"You don't really want that girly flower, do you, Dudders?" Vernon managed a tight smile. "It's too ugly for someone like you. We'll get you a perfectly masculine and handsome flower."
"Now?"
Vernon glared at Trowa. Trowa ignored it. "Of course, Dudders," Vernon managed a tight smile. Harry put the flower on the windowsill, and Trowa made a note to move it. It was far too cold for the flower there, in midwinter. Vernon and Dudley thundered slowly down the steps and Trowa snapped the door shut, twisting the lock.
"I'm sorry I was so much trouble," Harry sniffed, wiping a hand across his face. "But . . . but . . . Mrs. Mosden gave me the plant and said she'd miss me and she loved having me in her class. And . . . and . . . it was important to me."
"It was yours, Harry. There is no reason you shouldn't fight for it." Trowa could understand, even though he didn't want Harry to get into trouble on a regular basis, but the plant was his and Dudley only wanted to steal it because it was Harry's. "You did a good thing, coming straight to me. So don't cry. It worked out. Now, we need to move your plant. Our windowsill is too cold for it right now. We need to move it to the dresser. We can send it with Rashid tomorrow night when he comes with all our paperwork."
Harry sniffed again, and nodded, resting his head against Trowa. "I didn't tell the teacher, the office got a call from the school in Rochester, and so they told the teacher and she gave me the plant." Today was the first day Harry had walked home since Trowa arrived, but he hadn't minded. It had just given Dudley a chance to see the plant.
"So I'm really leaving?" Harry curled up next to Trowa, on the bed.
"Yes, we're really leaving."
"It feels weird," Harry admitted, softly. "This is the only place I've ever lived, even if it isn't really home. I want to go with you, but . . . I'm scared."
"This will be new for both of us," Trowa rubbed the boy's back, tucking the child close to his side. "I've never attempted raising a kid before."
"If . . . I know this is weird but . . . if I'm going to live with you . . . can I call you my brother?" Harry wrung his hands. "I . . . know it's stupid, but . . . you're like a brother, I think. I've never had one, but . . . but you're like I pictured a brother."
Trowa started slightly, staring at him with soft eyes, tears pricking at the corners. He never thought he would hear those words from a child, since he had, until very recently, thought he had no blood related family and was an orphan. Harry turned away slightly, fear underwriting his hope. "I . . . I know it was a stupid idea . . ."
"No, Harry, no," Trowa hugged him, feeling like the boy's elder brother for the entire world. "It's a good idea. I was just very surprised. Of course you may call me your brother. I would be honored to be called your brother."
A smile blossomed on Harry's young face and Trowa knew, without a doubt, that as hard as the road might be, he had made the right choice. Trowa nudged him slightly, to let him know it was time to get to up so he could do his homework, and Harry groaned, but got his backpack. It was still his old one, but Trowa had forgotten to buy a new one. Quatre had assured him he would handle it, but to leave the new bag at the house for Harry. Trowa had just shrugged and agreed.
Harry took the desk this time, leaving the bed to Trowa, and swung his feet as he worked, half-giggling in delight at gaining a brother.
Trowa couldn't help but smile.
<>*<>
Wednesday Rashid showed up before Trowa and Harry left for school, paperwork in hand. "Master Quatre called me for this," Rashid looked a little annoyed about the early hour, but when Harry gave a shy wave, Rashid's face softened. Trowa traded the flower for the paperwork, and Rashid promised to get it to the house in one piece. "Do you want it in the conservatory or his room?"
Harry stared in shock. "There's a room for plants there?"
"Of course, young Master Potter," Rashid smiled at him. "Where do you want it?"
"Will it be okay in my room? Trowa said not to put it too close to the window because it's cold." Harry looked nervous.
"It will be fine either place."
"I won't be there," Harry told him. "Put it where someone can take care of it until I get there, please. Can we move it to my room after that?"
"Of course." Rashid cradled the pot gently in his large hands, waving as he moved to leave. Harry chewed his lip in a nervous habit that Trowa made a mental note to break.
"You think my flower will be okay?"
"I'm sure there is a gardener there that will know exactly how to take care of it. And I bet if you asked after we get there, he'll teach you." Trowa ruffled his hair, glancing over the papers. "These all look in order. Now we'll be able to finish withdrawing you from school and be prepared to leave at the end of the week. I'll get you off Friday, so Thursday will be your last day, but we won't tell Vernon that, all right?"
Harry nodded, clapping. A four-day weekend, then he'd be at a new school without Dudley! He'd miss Mrs. Mosden, but that was the only person he'd miss, and Trowa promised the child he could e-mail his teacher. Harry would give Mrs. Mosden Trowa's e-mail address, and once they got settled into their new house, they'd make one for Harry. The boy was extremely excited about everything: going to a new school, getting to use a computer, having a new family, meeting the rest of Trowa's friends.
"Time for school, then," Trowa announced, straightening his tie. Harry giggled. He still thought Trowa looked silly in his all gray uniform. Trowa only sighed and hustled Harry from the room, tucking the papers in his jacket, and heading towards Harry's school. He would have to stop by the office to finish the paperwork for Harry's transfer, and then he'd have to show the papers for his own withdrawl.
Harry dragged Trowa towards the office, face excited. "Miss Lang! Miss Lang! Trowa has my papers!" It wasn't quite a shout, but it was certainly close enough.
"Harry, you must be quiet," The principal was a pretty woman of Chinese descent. Trowa smiled. She reminded him of Wu Fei only because of her ethnicity, but it was nice to see even tiny reminders of home. "You're inside, not on the playground."
"Sorry," Harry blushed. "But Trowa has the rest of my papers! He got them just this morning!"
Miss Lang smiled and held out a hand. "Miss Lang. I don't believe I've met you before?"
"Trowa Barton. Originally Hugo Evans."
Miss Lang glanced at him, and then turned to hide a smile. "You don't look like a Hugo," She admitted, once she managed to get her smile back under control.
"I suppose not." Trowa shrugged.
Miss Lang nodded, looking at him, then Harry. "You two do look quite a bit alike. Not much, but you can see it in the sweep of your eyebrows. You also have the same noses and eyes."
Trowa shrugged again. His appearance didn't much matter to him. He was who he was, nothing more was important, but Harry beamed in delight at the comparison. "So we can finish signing me out now, right?"
"You're still attending through tomorrow." Trowa informed him, ruffling his hair. "Now go to class while I finish the paperwork."
Harry huffed in frustration, already trying to skip class at the tender age of nine. But he went anyway, obeying Trowa with little protest. Miss Lang chuckled. "Aren't you a little young to take on a child?" She asked, her dark eyes laughing.
"No," Trowa held out the paperwork. "Here are my guardianship papers and limited emancipation papers."
"Only limited?"
"The government lackeys have a stick up their collective ass." Trowa was deadpan. "I've been taking care of myself for sixteen and a half years but I can't survive on my own until I'm eighteen with the jobs I have."
"Oh?"
"I work part time two places, and have good healthcare for both. Both jobs also pay a pretty penny. Now, I need to sign those forms for Harry."
Miss Lang sighed. High school students had no sense of humor these days. The wars must have destroyed that, too. Like everything else. Miss Lang quickly finished the paperwork and showed Trowa where to sign. Attaching copies of Trowa's emancipation and Harry's guardianship papers to the sheets and giving Trowa a copy of the transcripts. Trowa thanked her and bowed slightly before leaving. Miss Lang rolled her eyes at him. No wonder he proved himself responsible enough for a child even on limited emancipation. His funny bone had obviously been misplaced. In someone else.
<>*<>
Once Trowa had all of Harry's paperwork, everything seemed to move smoothly. It seemed to be too good to be true, but with Lady Une, Relena, and Quatre making sure everything had been rushed through and properly done, it had been easy. Trowa couldn't find it in him to complain.
"He's mine," Trowa announced to Cathy, relief evident in his voice.
"Good!" Catherine Bloom gave a sigh of relief. "I knew it would all go through, but I worried anyway," She admitted with a laugh.
"You don't need to now. I'm holding the paperwork and I just finished signing his transcripts. He's all ours now." Even though it wasn't on his face, Trowa's smile was in his voice.
"I'm so happy," Trowa knew her lips were curled in the biggest smile possible. "How bad is he screwed up?"
"We'll find out." Trowa rubbed his face, pulled off his blazer, tie, and white button down leaving him in dress pants and a white undershirt before pulling on a deep, green turtle neck Quatre had asked him to run a few errands to prepare the WEI branch in London of their arrival. For the most part Quatre would be able to work from the much smaller branch in Rochester, but would have to make the hour long drive to London at least twice a week. Trowa was making it that day to finish a few preparations Quatre had left and make sure the proper departments were notified about their additions.
R&D apparently had a heads up from the department on the colonies. "Please, Mr. Barton, don't let him in here!" The head begged, on his knees, hands clasped in front of him. "Please."
"He'll only be in here twice a week, calm down. Quatre is letting him work near the house most of the time. We all will be. What did you hear about Duo, anyway?"
"Between him and ice eyes?" One of the younger workers asked, shivering. "It's supposed to be terrible!"
"Hiiro only shows up to drag him out. And he isn't known for blowing anything up."
"We heard about his glares," a woman protested, looking scared.
"Trust me. You won't be dealing with him three quarters of the time."
Relief seemed to press down on him and the R&D department gave a ragged cheer of relief. "We work out of the house a great deal."
He was quickly shown out after that confession, to his relief, and the teen hurried upstairs to find the office Quatre had specified for him to check. Going through paperwork and talking to the secretary, Trowa discovered everything in order. All five of them were ready to begin there.
He grabbed lunch before heading to the Preventors headquarters in London, going for a quick tour and being shown to their offices. Une had assured them they would be working in a similar capacity there as home, so the office was small and cramped but probably wouldn't get much use. They had a tendency to spend more time at their home than the building because there wasn't much for them to do in the building. Usually because Duo took the "Top Secret" folders home.
Glancing at his watch, Trowa realized he had just enough time to get back to Little Whinging to pick Harry up from school. He called Quatre to tell him that everything was ready for them, and hurried towards the school. He was only going to have more issues if he made Harry walk home again. He'd seen the glares Dudley had been casting at his cousin all morning. Probably still over that flower.
Trowa sighed. He couldn't wait to be gone.
<>*<>
<>*<>
I'm not sure how well I like this chapter, but I think that's more because it's a transition chapter and I, like you, am excited to get further into the story and see what happens when Harry meets everyone else. I hope you enjoyed it anyway, though. I also hope there aren't too many errors. This really is just a rough draft. I won't be changing the content, don't worry, but I also haven't gone back to check my spelling or grammar either. Sorry.
Not to say I haven't written more, but even so, I'm still tired of staring at chapter five of Flight of the Bumblebee. So I'll let you read it so it stops staring at me. And once I have it on here I can stop thinking about it and keep working on chapter six. So I formally apologize for not giving this to Dentelle_Noir to look at before I put it on here, but I'm so sick of staring at it I can't stand it anymore. I will thank her for helping me with chapter six, though. So far so good. Then again, I haven't added to it since you and I talked.
And I still can't answer your question. But I promise I am thinking about it. Writing it through helps, so I'll just keep plucking away at it. I have a feeling it will be easier to answer after I see the way Harry acts with everyone else. For now, however, I'm going to shut up and finishing posting.
Title: Flight of the Bumblebee Part Five
Rating: T/PG-13 I'm old and set in my ways. I'm used to the PG-13.
Fandom: Harry Potter Gundam Wing cross
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. Would be nice, though.
Warnings: Will contain Shounen Ai, (1x2, 3x4, 5x6). We're still at the hints, though. Some of the hints are just more blatant than others.
Summary: Trowa Barton discovers that he actually has family thanks to mandatory government testing. Since Trowa isn't eighteen yet, he's the lucky sap that gets to go live with them for awhile, to the annoyance of the rest of the pilots and Preventors.
Flight of the Bumblebee
Part Five
Annoyance
Harry was asleep almost as soon as they entered the house that night, forcing Trowa to wake him long enough to take a bath. It was good Harry trusted Trowa so much, because the elder boy had to help Harry through the entirety of his bath, he was so exhausted. Trowa finally bundled him up in some of Harry's old pajamas, since he didn't want to give Vernon something to target by leaving any of Harry's new things at the house, and the change was terrible. Harry went from a normal-looking, happy child to a lost looking waif of a boy. The difference of having clothing that fit was astounding to Trowa.
Vernon pounded at the door near eleven, and Trowa ripped it open, green eyes glittering dimly in anger. "The hell do you want, Dursley?" Trowa snarled, angry because Vernon hadn't even cared that Harry was sleeping. Harry never mattered to him, and Trowa was mad that the child had earned so much of their scorn for no reason.
"Where were you today?" Vernon growled.
"Out." Trowa told him shortly, forcing his mask back into place. It wouldn't do to have his mask shattered by this pig. "Do not bother us again tonight."
Vernon purpled, but when Trowa reached behind him, as though for his gun, the man backed down, leaving the room noisily. Trowa wanted to slam the door, but closed it softly so Harry didn't wake, twisting the lock angrily. It was surprising Harry hadn't stirred the entire time, but the child had been so tired it was also understandable he'd slept through it.
His phone ringing made him jump. "Barton."
"Tro-tro!" Duo's cheerful voice was a surprise. He hadn't checked the caller ID and just assumed it was Quatre.
"Hello, Duo." It seemed Hiiro had let him off the leash for the night.
"Did shopping go good?" Duo's bouncy spirit made Trowa smile.
"Very well. I got Harry a lot of new things. He was extremely excited. Duo, he's never had toys before. His shoes were two sizes too small. His clothes were all worn out. He didn't have a winter coat. And--his family could have bought him all of that. Toys, new clothes, new shoes, a coat . . . they just didn't bother."
Duo went quiet, and Trowa knew he was simmering angrily at the admission, but Trowa had to tell him. He needed to get it off his chest. "It isn't fair," Duo said softly. "I know some children go without, but I always thought it was because their families couldn't afford better, you know? I didn't have a pair of shoes until I got to the orphanage. To hear that Harry didn't have this stuff . . . it makes me want to get revenge . . ."
"You can't kill anyone," Trowa hissed in Japanese, not wanting to risk Harry waking in time to hear that remark.
"I don't plan to," Duo waved it off, still speaking English. "I mean, maybe we can sue the pants off your Uncle or something."
"I claim absolutely no relation to that pig," Trowa scowled, switching back to English.
"In that case, you should be all for the revenge." Duo smirked. "Got any good information on Vernon Dursley for me and Hee-chan to work with?"
"I don't talk to them much. You'll probably just have to hack into the system to find it. All I know is that the man is high up in Grunnings Drills, is easily impressed with money, and annoys the hell out of me. Petunia stays at home, does nothing but watch TV, made Harry do all the housework, and annoys the hell out of me. Dudley could get away with murder here because they'd blame it on Harry, is dumb as a box of rocks, and also annoys the hell out of me."
"Is Harry the only one of them you like?" Trowa could picture the look on Duo's face, his dark brows raised, violet eyes glittering with amusement.
"The others are all pigs," Trowa muttered, almost sullenly. "Except Petunia. She's an ass."
"As in--?"
"The donkey. Ugly as a mule, only stupid."
"Mules are fairly intelligent, but so are pigs."
"I don't care to insult either. The Dursley’s look like them, but they're stupid."
"Sounds like fun. Quatre's at a meeting and he won't get back until way too late to call, so I said I'd do it. Besides, I wanted to let you know that Hiiro was hacking into their bank account and trying to decide how much we could get from them."
"No stealing."
"Spoilsport," Duo grumbled, but agreed.
"Any of you." Trowa insisted, knowing that if he didn't make Duo promise for all of them he'd just get one of the others to do it.
"Fine. But I will find a way to make them go bankrupt." Duo huffed.
"Do it legally," Trowa ordered, rubbing his temples. He knew Duo was pouting from the tone of his voice, but the other reluctantly agreed again, promising for all of the pilots.
"Hiiro wants to talk to you." Duo finally told him after they chatted for a few more minutes, then tossed the phone to his lover. And Trowa knew he'd tossed it because he could hear air rushing past. He also knew because of Hiiro.
"Don't throw the phone, Duo," The Japanese called, probably from another room, before speaking into the phone. "Barton."
"Yui." It wasn't that he and Hiiro weren't good friends, but they were in the habit of using their last names as greetings on the phone. It drove Duo and Quatre to distraction on occasion.
"Duo told me to get off my ass and start looking for ways to make the Dursley’s sorry they'd mistreated Harry."
"Sounds like all of you have taken up his cause." Trowa raised an eyebrow.
"We do not approve of their handling of him." Hiiro's voice was flat, but Trowa could still hear the disapproval in his voice. "And we will ensure they cannot do that to anyone else."
Trowa was all for revenge, but he didn't want Harry to think it was all right. Still, the Dursley’s deserved some repercussions for what they had done to the boy. "I don't want to teach Harry revenge is all right," Trowa finally admitted.
"It is not solely revenge. They deserve consequences for their actions. We just realize you do not care to have a drawn out battle in court, so suing them would be unpleasant, though we could do it. I have some ideas that I will develop before I see you again. Then we will talk it over. Grunnings is a major company, after all."
"You already hacked in? Why did Duo ask me, then?"
"He wanted to check. As I said, we have some ideas. We will present them to you upon our arrival. Quatre will not be doing it alone, so do not ask him. He will have enough to do. He is excited to see you at the end of the week. The weekend after that we will arrive. Two weeks after that, Relena, Noin and Dorothy will be visiting. Hilde and Howard will be by the next Tuesday since Howard has a run bringing him near here and two weeks after Relena leaves Cathy will be there for a week to meet her 'new cousin.' The rest of the circus will be by sometime near the end of April to prepare for their first show the first week of June in London. Quatre's land is far enough in the country the animals may be housed there for a longer period of time." Hiiro's clinical outline of the schedule made Trowa sigh, because it sounded very busy, but he knew it wouldn't be nearly as bad as it sounded.
"Anything else?"
"Wu Fei sends greetings, as does Zechs. Quatre also told me to tell you that he loves you and is sorry he could not talk to you today. Apparently Duo scared R&D more than he thought. Even the veterans were somewhat freaked out."
"You've been around Duo too long," Trowa informed him with a slight smile. He could almost see Hiiro roll his eyes.
"We will see you in just under two weeks," Hiiro informed him, then hung up. Trowa couldn't help but smile a little wider. It was just like Hiiro, not to say good-bye over the phone. Trowa tucked the phone away, still smiling. Talking to the other pilots always put him in a good mood, even if it wasn't Quatre. Trowa shook his head before changing and crawling into bed himself.
The next week was bound to be a long one.
<>*<>
"Trowa! Trowa! Trowa!" Harry's panicked screams woke Trowa the next morning. Trowa snapped awake, grabbed his gun and rolled out of bed. Harry wasn't in the room and the door was open and unlocked. Trowa shot down the stairs, nearly screaming in anger. Vernon had Harry pinned to the wall, one hand drawn back.
"You think that boy is going to take you out of here?" Vernon roared, gripping the front of Harry's shirt and shifting the child so he could slam him into the wall. "You actually think anyone wants a freak like you?"
"Tr--Trowa!" Harry was sobbing by the time Trowa reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Put my cousin down, Dursley," Trowa snarled, not yet showing his gun.
"You going to make me, boy?" Vernon laughed, turning toward Trowa and shaking Harry mockingly. "What are you going to do? No gun now, is there. And I know you can't take me without it."
Trowa glared at the man, his green eyes darkening as Harry reached for him desperately. One hand snapped out to crack into Vernon's arm, forcing him to drop Harry. Trowa swept the child into his arms, backing away. He could have taken Vernon bare handed, but Harry was his main priority. "Do not touch him again," Trowa warned, watching Vernon impassively as the man clutched his arm.
"If you did permanent damage, boy, you better believe I'll put you away!"
"If you hurt Harry in any way, shape, or form ever again, Dursley," Trowa regarded him with narrowed green eyes, though the rest of his posture didn't change, "I'll kill you."
"Is that a threat, boy?"
"I don't bother with threats anymore, Mr. Dursley." Trowa's entire demeanor seemed to shift, his appearance cool and impassive with only a shift in his eyes, his anger hidden deep in their green depths. Vernon shuddered at the coolness of his voice. If Trowa wasn't a kid, Vernon would have sworn the boy had killed someone before. As though to confirm the theory, despite his age, Trowa pulled out his gun and aimed it unflinchingly at Vernon's head. "Understand?"
Vernon gulped, scuttling backwards. "O-of course. You and the fre--boy--just stay out of my sight."
Trowa turned and went back up the stairs, carrying a still-sobbing Harry. The child was clinging to him like he was the boy's last hope, face buried in Trowa's shoulder. "Are you all right, Harry?"
"I--I just wanted a drink of wa-wa-water!" Harry wailed. "I didn't think I needed to wake you up for some water!"
"It's okay," Trowa soothed. "I'm not mad, I promise. You're old enough you should have been able to get it alone, but Vernon is very dangerous."
Harry nodded pathetically. "You're not mad?"
"No, Harry. Not at you." Actually Trowa was sad. Harry never should have been attacked. Not by Vernon, not by anyone. This was a time of peace. No one should have been attacked, especially not a child. That was the very reason Trowa and the other pilots had given up their own childhood. To ensure that other children, children like Harry, could keep theirs.
"What now?" Harry's brows furrowed and Trowa knew the child was trying not to cry.
"Some rules for the house while we're here," Trowa sighed. "I really didn't want it to come to this, but I'm afraid it has to. If you leave our room, I go with you. I don't care what its for or where your going--though if it's to the bathroom I'll wait outside."
Harry gave a small giggle, nodding. "But even to get a drink of water?"
"It's necessary right now. After we're out of here things will change. No one at our new house will attack you; it's just as long as we're around Vernon. Okay?"
Trowa could tell Harry wasn't happy, but the boy nodded all the same. He knew, as well as Trowa, that it was necessary. That didn't mean he had to like it. But Trowa also knew Harry would obey him. Harry wouldn't risk being forced to stay with the Dursley’s, and Trowa couldn't prove that he meant to keep his promise to keep Harry and be his family until they were away from Vernon. Trowa offered a small sigh. One more week. Just one. More. Week.
<>*<>
Trowa had to make some calls so Harry could transfer into a new school after they moved. They lived nearly an hour away from the Dursley’s, to Trowa's relief, but it would require Harry changing schools. Harry hadn't minded at all, cheering when Trowa made the announcement, but he would have to work with the administration at it.
"What about you, Trowa?" Harry tilted his head. "Will you change schools, too?"
"I won't be attending anymore," Trowa looked up from his work. "I cannot explain why here, but I will tell you once we move, all right?"
"But Uncle Vernon says you need good grades to get a good job," Harry looked confused. "How will you take care of us if you can't get a job?"
"I already have a job, green eyes," Trowa smiled softly. "You let me worry about that, all right? I promise you don't need to worry about us having enough money, okay?"
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart," Trowa didn't bother with the last of the verse when Harry made another face.
"So why are you doing homework?"
Trowa shrugged. "Habit, I suppose. I don't care to leave it undone. I still need to make a few calls to get you set up in your new school, but that will all have to wait until Monday."
Harry nodded again, finishing his own homework. Trowa would have normally made him finish his homework first, but they had to get their shopping done Saturday so everything would be delivered in time for them to move in. Trowa sighed again. He wasn't used to the responsibility of a child, though he knew it would be easier when they were out of the Dursley’s house.
Finally putting Harry to bed, Trowa made sure they had water in the room so Harry wouldn't have to leave for it, and tucked away his homework before going to bed himself. They were leaving this house Saturday and Trowa could hardly wait.
<>*<>
Monday dawned bright and early, at least for Trowa, by Dudley pounding on the door. Trowa had never threatened the fat bully with his gun, and didn't care to do so. Threatening children just made him a bully, even if it probably would have done Dudley some good. Glancing at the clock Trowa decided Harry had a little longer to sleep and moved to the window to stare outside. He needed to call Harry's new school today, to check and see what they needed transferred over or what tests Harry would need to take to get in. Tuesday he would have to talk to Harry's current school to get the files transferred. Everything beyond Tuesday would depend on what the school told him when he called.
"Harry," Trowa shook the child awake gently, prodding him to get dressed and digging out some bread they'd bought the night before for breakfast. Getting him ready and to school didn't take a lot of time, and Trowa was glad Harry was such a mature and responsible child.
Then Trowa had to make his way to his own school. The Gundam Pilot stared at the box, heading calmly up the stairs and into the main office. The secretary blinked at him. "Is there an issue, young man?"
"I need withdrawl forms,” Trowa told her, eyes flicking over her relaxed form. She had been filing her nails when he walked in.
"Why? Give up on school? Everyone else does," The woman snorted. "Finally turn sixteen and then they're gone."
"I have not given up on anything. I've moving an hour away. I will not remain in attendance here when I'm nearly an hour from this school." Trowa shrugged, taking the withdrawl forms.
"We need information to send your transcripts to your next school," The secretary didn't let go of the withdrawl sheet.
Trowa waited patiently, and the woman finally sighed and let go of the paper. Trowa said nothing more, just walked out of the room. There was no need for him to get his transcripts. He wasn't transferring to another school. He had other things to do.
"Leaving us already, Mr. Evans?" The quirky recent events teacher examined the form. "Where are you transferring to?"
"I will be living just east of Rochester, Kent." The man was far too nosy for Trowa's liking.
"Found some new relatives, have you boy?" The teacher sighed. "In my day, we were happy with the relatives we had."
"I'm moving to be closer to my friends and my sister."
"Oh, that's nice. I guess that's a good reason to move so quickly." The man was easily placated, but Trowa wasn't upset. The sooner the man quit speaking to him, the better. Trowa was tired of listening to the students dissect everything that had happened to him over the past two years. It wasn't their fault they were innocent civilians, but that didn't mean Trowa wanted to listen.
He put his head back down, blocking out the entire conversation. It really didn't matter if he failed the class. He was leaving.
<>*<>
Harry raced outside to meet Trowa the moment the elder boy pulled to the curb, jumping in the car. "Dudley called me a liar!" Harry cried, throwing himself at Trowa. "He said you didn't really know Mr. Winner, or Vice Minister Darlian, or Lady Une, or, or anyone! He said that I was making it all up and the teacher believed him! She made me sit in the corner for lying even through I didn't lie!" Tears rolled down the boy's face, and he clung to Trowa like a limpet.
Trowa blinked in shock, wrapping his arms around Harry in surprise. Harry had never reacted to anything like that. "I know you aren't a liar," Trowa held him tightly, trying not to gape at the over-reacting child. "It doesn't matter what they said as long as you know you're telling the truth. What is important is that you and I both know I do know all those people."
"You're sure?" Harry sniffed. "I didn't like being in the corner."
"No one does, but at least we know you aren't really a liar, and in a week it isn't going to matter."
Trowa didn't take them home, stopping at the ice-cream parlor instead. Harry was excited; this was the third time he'd had ice cream in his entire life. There was no way Trowa would begrudge that. Harry eagerly got two small scoops of different flavors, eagerly licking at it while Trowa called Harry's new school. "You think I'll be okay in a new school?" Harry looked nervous. "Do you think they'll like me?"
"I'm sure they will. It's hard not to." Trowa smiled, and then turned his attention back to the phone call.
"Dobbin point Elementary, how may I help you?" The woman on the phone sounded a great deal nicer than the secretary Trowa had just dealt with.
"My name is Trowa Barton and I need to call about transferring my younger cousin to your school. I will be his guardian come Wednesday and we're moving into the district. What sort of forms will you need for him to start classes next Tuesday?" Trowa had considered putting him in Monday, but giving Harry a little extra time to adjust would probably be wise.
"Oh, well, isn't that nice? I'm Mrs. Strauss. Let's get some things filled out now. You said you aren't currently his guardian, but you will be Wednesday?"
"The paperwork has gone through, but I won't have proof or full government recognition until Wednesday."
"As long as you have it before he starts here, that's fine. Now, we'll need his transcripts from his old school, and I need some other information that we can fill out now. What's the boy's name?"
"Harry Potter."
"Age?"
"Nine."
Harry looked up from his ice cream cone while Trowa filled in the boy's information, smiling at Trowa before attacking the ice cream again. By the time Harry finished, Trowa had as well and was calling Lady Une to get his guardianship papers faxed on Wednesday. He had been planning to get Harry all signed out of school Tuesday, but he'd have to wait for the paperwork.
Une agreed to fax it to Quatre's residence near Rochester, Kent, and Rashid would take it to Trowa. Trowa forced himself not to look annoyed. It would only make Harry think something was wrong. And, as much trouble as this was going to be, that was the last thing Trowa wanted.
<>*<>
Tuesday was just another day for Trowa and Harry. Harry was leaving almost everything behind, taking with him only the few clothes he'd kept with him from shopping. Trowa could be packed and ready to leave in less than ten minutes. He had only brought enough for those two weeks; Quatre would pack up and bring the rest of his things.
They dodged Vernon and Petunia all day, since the two were beginning to think they were doing something without letting them know--Trowa still hadn't informed them he was leaving. They would get the paperwork Saturday as he left.
Harry raced into the room Tuesday afternoon, barely missing Dudley's kick as the two raced up the stairs, Harry holding what looked like a small plant tightly. "It's mine," Harry shouted at him, hiding behind Trowa. "I planted it and took care of it and the teacher gave it to me!"
"Harry?" Trowa should have known he was always going to feel confused around the child by now, at least where things like this were concerned.
"My teacher gave me this because she knows I'm leaving," Harry explained, too soft for Dudley to hear. "And Dudley's jealous because she gave it to me. But I helped her plant it at the beginning of school and I helped her take care of it, and I made sure to feed it and talk to it and everything."
The plant was a tiny, miniature rosebush, obviously still young, but very healthy. The pot wasn't too big, but it was colorful, and Trowa could see the small, ceramic saucer that went with the planter to catch the excess water with a small note for Harry from the teacher. To Harry, with love from Mrs. Mosden. I enjoyed having you in my class this year and hope you enjoy your new home. Please take care of this for me. The lip of the pot also said the pot was for Harry from his teacher.
"But I want it!" Dudley wailed. Trowa heard Vernon stir.
"Shut up, Dudley," Trowa stepped in, gripping the back of Dudley's shirt and spinning him around. "Go pester your parents. That plant was for Harry, and he will be keeping it."
"But I want it!" Dudley shouted, stomping his feet.
Vernon appeared on the stairs. "What is going on? Can't a man watch the telly in peace?"
"Harry stole my plant!" Dudley fake-sobbed. "Make him give it back!"
"It isn't yours!" Harry shook the saucer at them. "It's mine! This says so!"
Vernon reached out to grab it, but Trowa gripped his arm, worried that Vernon would break it if he got his hands on it, just to upset Harry. "It is Harry's," Trowa informed him, eyes cold. "The pot and saucer both say so. You will not be taking it. Now get your fat lump of a son away from us."
"What, would you hurt him, too?" Vernon sneered.
"Not like you're thinking." Trowa shoved Vernon back, mindful of the stairs. "But I will spank him if I have to." The suggestion from Duo--who had received his fair share from Father Maxwell and Sister Helen--made Vernon go purple.
"I want it!" Dudley wailed again, and Vernon glanced rapidly from Trowa, who stood protectively in front of Harry and his new flower, to Dudley. Dudley's face was turning red, and the man finally tugged Dudley towards the stairs.
"You don't really want that girly flower, do you, Dudders?" Vernon managed a tight smile. "It's too ugly for someone like you. We'll get you a perfectly masculine and handsome flower."
"Now?"
Vernon glared at Trowa. Trowa ignored it. "Of course, Dudders," Vernon managed a tight smile. Harry put the flower on the windowsill, and Trowa made a note to move it. It was far too cold for the flower there, in midwinter. Vernon and Dudley thundered slowly down the steps and Trowa snapped the door shut, twisting the lock.
"I'm sorry I was so much trouble," Harry sniffed, wiping a hand across his face. "But . . . but . . . Mrs. Mosden gave me the plant and said she'd miss me and she loved having me in her class. And . . . and . . . it was important to me."
"It was yours, Harry. There is no reason you shouldn't fight for it." Trowa could understand, even though he didn't want Harry to get into trouble on a regular basis, but the plant was his and Dudley only wanted to steal it because it was Harry's. "You did a good thing, coming straight to me. So don't cry. It worked out. Now, we need to move your plant. Our windowsill is too cold for it right now. We need to move it to the dresser. We can send it with Rashid tomorrow night when he comes with all our paperwork."
Harry sniffed again, and nodded, resting his head against Trowa. "I didn't tell the teacher, the office got a call from the school in Rochester, and so they told the teacher and she gave me the plant." Today was the first day Harry had walked home since Trowa arrived, but he hadn't minded. It had just given Dudley a chance to see the plant.
"So I'm really leaving?" Harry curled up next to Trowa, on the bed.
"Yes, we're really leaving."
"It feels weird," Harry admitted, softly. "This is the only place I've ever lived, even if it isn't really home. I want to go with you, but . . . I'm scared."
"This will be new for both of us," Trowa rubbed the boy's back, tucking the child close to his side. "I've never attempted raising a kid before."
"If . . . I know this is weird but . . . if I'm going to live with you . . . can I call you my brother?" Harry wrung his hands. "I . . . know it's stupid, but . . . you're like a brother, I think. I've never had one, but . . . but you're like I pictured a brother."
Trowa started slightly, staring at him with soft eyes, tears pricking at the corners. He never thought he would hear those words from a child, since he had, until very recently, thought he had no blood related family and was an orphan. Harry turned away slightly, fear underwriting his hope. "I . . . I know it was a stupid idea . . ."
"No, Harry, no," Trowa hugged him, feeling like the boy's elder brother for the entire world. "It's a good idea. I was just very surprised. Of course you may call me your brother. I would be honored to be called your brother."
A smile blossomed on Harry's young face and Trowa knew, without a doubt, that as hard as the road might be, he had made the right choice. Trowa nudged him slightly, to let him know it was time to get to up so he could do his homework, and Harry groaned, but got his backpack. It was still his old one, but Trowa had forgotten to buy a new one. Quatre had assured him he would handle it, but to leave the new bag at the house for Harry. Trowa had just shrugged and agreed.
Harry took the desk this time, leaving the bed to Trowa, and swung his feet as he worked, half-giggling in delight at gaining a brother.
Trowa couldn't help but smile.
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Wednesday Rashid showed up before Trowa and Harry left for school, paperwork in hand. "Master Quatre called me for this," Rashid looked a little annoyed about the early hour, but when Harry gave a shy wave, Rashid's face softened. Trowa traded the flower for the paperwork, and Rashid promised to get it to the house in one piece. "Do you want it in the conservatory or his room?"
Harry stared in shock. "There's a room for plants there?"
"Of course, young Master Potter," Rashid smiled at him. "Where do you want it?"
"Will it be okay in my room? Trowa said not to put it too close to the window because it's cold." Harry looked nervous.
"It will be fine either place."
"I won't be there," Harry told him. "Put it where someone can take care of it until I get there, please. Can we move it to my room after that?"
"Of course." Rashid cradled the pot gently in his large hands, waving as he moved to leave. Harry chewed his lip in a nervous habit that Trowa made a mental note to break.
"You think my flower will be okay?"
"I'm sure there is a gardener there that will know exactly how to take care of it. And I bet if you asked after we get there, he'll teach you." Trowa ruffled his hair, glancing over the papers. "These all look in order. Now we'll be able to finish withdrawing you from school and be prepared to leave at the end of the week. I'll get you off Friday, so Thursday will be your last day, but we won't tell Vernon that, all right?"
Harry nodded, clapping. A four-day weekend, then he'd be at a new school without Dudley! He'd miss Mrs. Mosden, but that was the only person he'd miss, and Trowa promised the child he could e-mail his teacher. Harry would give Mrs. Mosden Trowa's e-mail address, and once they got settled into their new house, they'd make one for Harry. The boy was extremely excited about everything: going to a new school, getting to use a computer, having a new family, meeting the rest of Trowa's friends.
"Time for school, then," Trowa announced, straightening his tie. Harry giggled. He still thought Trowa looked silly in his all gray uniform. Trowa only sighed and hustled Harry from the room, tucking the papers in his jacket, and heading towards Harry's school. He would have to stop by the office to finish the paperwork for Harry's transfer, and then he'd have to show the papers for his own withdrawl.
Harry dragged Trowa towards the office, face excited. "Miss Lang! Miss Lang! Trowa has my papers!" It wasn't quite a shout, but it was certainly close enough.
"Harry, you must be quiet," The principal was a pretty woman of Chinese descent. Trowa smiled. She reminded him of Wu Fei only because of her ethnicity, but it was nice to see even tiny reminders of home. "You're inside, not on the playground."
"Sorry," Harry blushed. "But Trowa has the rest of my papers! He got them just this morning!"
Miss Lang smiled and held out a hand. "Miss Lang. I don't believe I've met you before?"
"Trowa Barton. Originally Hugo Evans."
Miss Lang glanced at him, and then turned to hide a smile. "You don't look like a Hugo," She admitted, once she managed to get her smile back under control.
"I suppose not." Trowa shrugged.
Miss Lang nodded, looking at him, then Harry. "You two do look quite a bit alike. Not much, but you can see it in the sweep of your eyebrows. You also have the same noses and eyes."
Trowa shrugged again. His appearance didn't much matter to him. He was who he was, nothing more was important, but Harry beamed in delight at the comparison. "So we can finish signing me out now, right?"
"You're still attending through tomorrow." Trowa informed him, ruffling his hair. "Now go to class while I finish the paperwork."
Harry huffed in frustration, already trying to skip class at the tender age of nine. But he went anyway, obeying Trowa with little protest. Miss Lang chuckled. "Aren't you a little young to take on a child?" She asked, her dark eyes laughing.
"No," Trowa held out the paperwork. "Here are my guardianship papers and limited emancipation papers."
"Only limited?"
"The government lackeys have a stick up their collective ass." Trowa was deadpan. "I've been taking care of myself for sixteen and a half years but I can't survive on my own until I'm eighteen with the jobs I have."
"Oh?"
"I work part time two places, and have good healthcare for both. Both jobs also pay a pretty penny. Now, I need to sign those forms for Harry."
Miss Lang sighed. High school students had no sense of humor these days. The wars must have destroyed that, too. Like everything else. Miss Lang quickly finished the paperwork and showed Trowa where to sign. Attaching copies of Trowa's emancipation and Harry's guardianship papers to the sheets and giving Trowa a copy of the transcripts. Trowa thanked her and bowed slightly before leaving. Miss Lang rolled her eyes at him. No wonder he proved himself responsible enough for a child even on limited emancipation. His funny bone had obviously been misplaced. In someone else.
<>*<>
Once Trowa had all of Harry's paperwork, everything seemed to move smoothly. It seemed to be too good to be true, but with Lady Une, Relena, and Quatre making sure everything had been rushed through and properly done, it had been easy. Trowa couldn't find it in him to complain.
"He's mine," Trowa announced to Cathy, relief evident in his voice.
"Good!" Catherine Bloom gave a sigh of relief. "I knew it would all go through, but I worried anyway," She admitted with a laugh.
"You don't need to now. I'm holding the paperwork and I just finished signing his transcripts. He's all ours now." Even though it wasn't on his face, Trowa's smile was in his voice.
"I'm so happy," Trowa knew her lips were curled in the biggest smile possible. "How bad is he screwed up?"
"We'll find out." Trowa rubbed his face, pulled off his blazer, tie, and white button down leaving him in dress pants and a white undershirt before pulling on a deep, green turtle neck Quatre had asked him to run a few errands to prepare the WEI branch in London of their arrival. For the most part Quatre would be able to work from the much smaller branch in Rochester, but would have to make the hour long drive to London at least twice a week. Trowa was making it that day to finish a few preparations Quatre had left and make sure the proper departments were notified about their additions.
R&D apparently had a heads up from the department on the colonies. "Please, Mr. Barton, don't let him in here!" The head begged, on his knees, hands clasped in front of him. "Please."
"He'll only be in here twice a week, calm down. Quatre is letting him work near the house most of the time. We all will be. What did you hear about Duo, anyway?"
"Between him and ice eyes?" One of the younger workers asked, shivering. "It's supposed to be terrible!"
"Hiiro only shows up to drag him out. And he isn't known for blowing anything up."
"We heard about his glares," a woman protested, looking scared.
"Trust me. You won't be dealing with him three quarters of the time."
Relief seemed to press down on him and the R&D department gave a ragged cheer of relief. "We work out of the house a great deal."
He was quickly shown out after that confession, to his relief, and the teen hurried upstairs to find the office Quatre had specified for him to check. Going through paperwork and talking to the secretary, Trowa discovered everything in order. All five of them were ready to begin there.
He grabbed lunch before heading to the Preventors headquarters in London, going for a quick tour and being shown to their offices. Une had assured them they would be working in a similar capacity there as home, so the office was small and cramped but probably wouldn't get much use. They had a tendency to spend more time at their home than the building because there wasn't much for them to do in the building. Usually because Duo took the "Top Secret" folders home.
Glancing at his watch, Trowa realized he had just enough time to get back to Little Whinging to pick Harry up from school. He called Quatre to tell him that everything was ready for them, and hurried towards the school. He was only going to have more issues if he made Harry walk home again. He'd seen the glares Dudley had been casting at his cousin all morning. Probably still over that flower.
Trowa sighed. He couldn't wait to be gone.
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I'm not sure how well I like this chapter, but I think that's more because it's a transition chapter and I, like you, am excited to get further into the story and see what happens when Harry meets everyone else. I hope you enjoyed it anyway, though. I also hope there aren't too many errors. This really is just a rough draft. I won't be changing the content, don't worry, but I also haven't gone back to check my spelling or grammar either. Sorry.